Some attacked the critics of gambling. "You can't gamble your way out of prosperity," said John Kindt, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Propelled by the state's budget deficits, legislators have introduced eight bills that would legalize gaming in one form or another. Hawaii is among at least 14 states seeking to permit or expand slots or casinos as a means to raise revenues and plug budget gaps Hawaii and Utah are the only states to prohibit all forms of gambling, presently.

But some of the money that Hawaii residents spend gambling in Las Vegas may be captured in the state, said Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-Lanikai-Waimanalo. Nevada is among the most popular tourist destinations for Hawaiians.

"People are going to gamble anyway, so if we can utilize gaming in a focused way, let's try it out," Hemmings said.
Rep. Joe Souki, D-Waihee-Wailuku, said legalized gambling critics are trying to frighten people. "They are treating us like children," the longtime gambling proponent added.

Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, D-Kalihi Valley-Halawa, backs gambling too, and she notes that legalized gambling has also arisen in the context of a bill in the U.S. Congress by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, which would start the process of creating a governing entity for Native Hawaiians, who are Polynesian.

The best of  Las Vegas

style casino action

© Copyright 2009 Online Slots Place's material. It may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.